Petrol sniffing taskforce for Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjattjara
Inhaling solvents is a potentially fatal addiction being fought by many people around the country – from remote desert communities to the inner-city streets of the capitals. Elders of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjattjara asked the South Australian coroner to look into the recent deaths of four young people and eight attempted suicides that were linked to petrol sniffing. The government has announced a task force will go to Oomawa, to address petrol sniffing and restore safety. But Director of the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council in South Australia, Scott Wilson, says the task-force is a stunt to pre-empt the upcoming coronial inquests. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Terry Roberts explained how the taskforce would operate and responded to Mr. Wilson’s concerns.